Alan Davis Beach | Oahu’s Best Secret Beach Hike for Families

Alan Davis Beach sits at the end of a short dirt trail off the Makapuu Lighthouse trailhead, about 10 minutes from the parking lot on the southeastern tip of Oahu. The beach is tucked into a small rocky inlet, protected and shallow, with tidepools, basalt sand, and enough to explore that kids lose track of time. The surrounding landscape is dry, windswept, and wild: kiawe, Hawaiian cotton, rolling grassland, and rugged cliffs. Nothing looks like the rest of Oahu out here. It’s best on a weekday afternoon when you might have the place entirely to yourself.

Why I Love This Beach

I adore this little beach. So much that I’ve been reluctant to tell you about it, because it’s best when you have the place to yourself. The beach goes by Alan Davis, or Allen Davis, or Allan Davis depending on who you ask. The spelling is inconsistent but the place is real. It’s along the Kaiwi Scenic Shoreline on the southeastern tip of Oahu, sharing a parking lot and trailhead with the Makapuu lighthouse hike. At the trailhead, instead of heading up the paved path to the lighthouse, take the dirt path down toward the ocean. It’s beautiful and wild and windy. The rugged landscape makes me feel like I’m somewhere on the Big Island or Maui. I love it.

The Hike Details

The hike is short, about 10 minutes from the trailhead to the beach, or closer to 20 if you’re moving at toddler pace. Leave the stroller at home. Unlike the path to the lighthouse, this trail is unpaved. Even though this trail was graded and graveled years ago, it’s still dirt and gravel and not stroller friendly.

My favorite time is late afternoon. If you can manage a weekday, you’ll often have the place to yourself. Bring a picnic dinner, spend time exploring and tide pooling, and catch the sunset over Koko Head before hiking back. Just make sure you’re back before the parking lot closes: gates open at 7:00 am and close at 6:45 pm. For the lighthouse trail and Alan Davis together, plan your timing carefully so you’re not locked in.

Dogs are welcome on the trail on leash. Mine loves it but watch out for kiawe trees (thorns!) by the beach.

Waterplay at Alan Davis Beach

Alan Davis Beach is best known as a cliff jumping spot. A utility pole once hung over the water like a diving board. Big friend groups and families would haul giant coolers and radios to the beach for a day of jumping and lounging on the rocks. Although the pole was removed by the State in 2011, avid jumpers still make the leap from the cliffside. Avoid this area on weekends in the summer if that’s not your scene.

Alan Davis Beach sits at the back of a small inlet, protected from waves that battle the surrounding shoreline. Tough, dryland plants like long-thorned kiawe and Hawaiian cotton make their home along this salty shoreline. It shows a different side of Hawaii; every bit as beautiful as the ubiquitous palm tree laced beaches throughout Oahu. Entry is shallow with soft plumes of basalt and coral sand underfoot. There are often man-made walls within the already calm area which toddlers claim as personal bath tubs.

Keep an eye out for native Hawaiian cotton along the trail with its bright yellow flowers and fluffy brown seeds.

What to Bring

The non-negotiables. Water and reef-safe sunscreen. That’s really it for the trail itself. The hike is short and the beach is the destination.

For the beach. A towel and a change of clothes make the walk back and the drive home a lot more comfortable. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead or on the trail. The closest facilities are at Makapuu Beach Park, just down the road.

On footwear. The trail down is easy enough barefoot if that’s your thing, and slippers work fine. The beach is another story. The shade trees along the shoreline are kiawe, which drop long thorns that can pierce even thick soles. Wear shoes near the trees or watch where you step. If you go barefoot, give your feet a rinse before heading back.

For little kids. Snacks. A dip net and bucket if your kids are into tide pooling. This is a good spot for a picnic and sunset, so if the timing works, bring dinner.

On sunscreen. Most sunscreen sold at drugstores and grocery stores contains chemicals that damage coral reef ecosystems. Hawaii banned several of them in 2021 for exactly this reason. They’re not great for humans either. Use reef-safe sunscreen, and skip the aerosol spray entirely. Applying it on a windy exposed trail means everyone around you is inhaling it, which is not a gift.

For your valuables. Don’t leave anything in the car. Car break-ins happen at this parking lot. Bring valuables with you or leave them at home.

Make a Day of It

The Alan Davis trailhead is the same as the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail, which makes combining the two easy. Head up the paved path to the lighthouse trail first for big views and whale watching in winter, then come back down and take the dirt path to Alan Davis Beach for the afternoon. In winter that combination is hard to beat.

If your family wants more adventure, the Makapuu tide pools are accessible from the same trailhead via a steep descent. Best visited outside of summer when the swell is down.

For a completely different vibe after the hike, the easy loop at Koko Crater Botanical Garden is 15 minutes away and good for all ages.

Family Photos at Alan Davis Beach

This is one of my favorite spots for sessions on this side of the island. The light in the late afternoon is warm and the setting is unlike anywhere else on Oahu; wild coastline, kids exploring the tidepools, nobody else around. You can see what a session here looks like here. And if it looks like something your family would be into, here’s where to start.

Alan Davis Beach FAQs

Q: How do you get to Alan Davis Beach? A: Park at the Makapuu Lighthouse trailhead on Kalanianaole Highway on the southeastern tip of Oahu, about 30 minutes from Waikiki. At the trailhead, take the dirt path to the right rather than the paved path up to the lighthouse. It’s about a 10-minute walk down through open grassland to the beach.

Q: Is Alan Davis Beach good for families with young kids? A: Yes. The beach sits in a protected rocky inlet with calm, shallow water and no significant wave action. The entry is gentle and there are tidepools to explore. The trail is short and easy, though unpaved and not stroller-friendly. Watch out for kiawe thorns near the shade trees at the beach — they can pierce even thick soles, so keep shoes on near the tree line.

Q: Is Alan Davis Beach crowded? A: It can be on summer weekends. Weekday afternoons are your best bet for having it to yourself. The improved trail has made it more accessible in recent years, but it’s still far quieter than most beaches on Oahu. Late afternoon on a weekday is the sweet spot, especially if you’re staying for sunset.

Q: Are dogs allowed at Alan Davis Beach? A: Yes. Dogs are welcome on the Kaiwi Shoreline Trail and at Alan Davis Beach on leash. It’s one of the designated dog-friendly stretches of coastline on Oahu.

Q: Are there bathrooms at Alan Davis Beach? A: No. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead or along the trail. The closest facilities are at Makapuu Beach Park, just down the road on Kalanianaole Highway.